The Wider Image: Haiti's brides beat hurricanes, power cuts and protests to wed in style
Marriage is not as widespread in Haiti as in other Western countries, given the long-standing creole tradition of 'plasaj,' an informal marital relationship that is common in rural areas but not legally recognized. Yet marriage has greater prestige and is particularly favored by Haiti's wealthier, cosmopolitan urbanites, according to Haitian sociologist Tamas Jean Pierre - not least because it is recognized abroad. Still, in a country where more than half the population lives under the poverty line of $2.41 per day, only the wealthiest of Haitian couples can afford the full shebang of a wedding ceremony, lavish dinner reception, and honeymoon. Most have to get creative. Sometimes multiple couples get married at the same time to save on church fees. They might skip the reception or, in the countryside, offer a simple meal of bread, fried plantains, rice and coffee. Sometimes, the whole village might provide food. Disputes can occur when there is not enough for all those who turn up, or when guests try to take home dishes or drinks. Despite tight purse strings, the showiness of the ceremony is the one element of the Haitian wedding that never lacks. REUTERS/Valerie Baeriswyl TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "HAITIAN WEDDINGS BAERISWYL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES Matching Text: HAITI-WEDDINGS/
